A fire station that’s smokin’ good

San Francisco’s first new fire station since 1950 1970 has a high-culture pedigree: SFMOMA bought the site at 935 Folsom St. and spent $10 million to construct the spiffy home for those big red trucks that every male preschooler loves.

It’s a feel-good story in terms of architecture as well as finance. Not only does the city get a bargain — in return for the new station SFMOMA gets the former fire station site on Howard Street to build its big new wing — the new station by LMS Architects is a exhibition-quality example of modern architecture that understands the importance of being a good neighbor and setting a civil tone.

A flashy icon it’s not. But for fans of civic architecture, Fire Station One is worth a visit — and here is why.

UPDATE: As several readers have pointed out, I mistakenly stated that this was the first new fire station since 1950. According to the mayor’s office, the last from-the-ground-up firehouse to be commissioned and dedicated was Fire Station 43 in the Excelsior, in 1970.

That’s what happens when I type quickly and don’t proof-read slowly. Apologies!

... the city receives THIS free of charge. (Chronicle photograph by John King)